Machine for forming blanks into cartons



Feb. 7, 1939,. A. G. ROgE 2,146,401

MACHINE FOR FORMING BLANKS INTO QARTONS I Filed Nov. 27, 1937 4 sheets-sheet. 1

Feb. 7, 1939. A. G. ROSE y A MACHINE FOR FORMING BLANK'S INTO CARTONS Filed Nov. 27, '1957 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Iwan-faz' FFeb. 'A7,

^ A, c. ROSE 2,146,407

MACHINE FOR FORMING BLANKS INTO CARTQNS In l l Filed Nov. 27, `193'? 4 Sheets-Shea?. 3

A. G. ROSE MACHINE FOR'FORMING BLANKS INT0 cARToNs Feb. 7, 1939.

4' Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed NGV. 27, 1937 Patented Feb. 7, 1939:

Alfred German Bose, Gainsborough, England, as-

signer to Bose Brothers (Gainsborough) 1.1m-, lied, Gainsborough, England, a British com.

PID!

Application November zr'. 1937, serial No. 116,858

-In' Great Britain December 5, 19,36

Claims.

vention, a series of forming blocks is moved in succession past folding devices by which' a cutand-scored blank is folded into U-shaped formation about three sides of each of the forming blocks. End sections -of the blank projecting l5 beyond the ends of the forming block are folded, by other folding devices, one atten the other upon the ends of the forming block. Each of the last-folded end sections is then moved in substantially its own plane by a push-back member to bring a t'ab upon it adjacent a slot formed in the iirst-folded end section. The last-folded end section is then moved back again by a pushforward device thereby causing the tab to enter the slot and thus lock all three folded. end sections in their folded condition. 'I'he entry of the tab into the slot is assisted by a pressing finger which, at the appropriate time. bears upon the tab and forces it toward the end of the block, the block having at each of its ends $0 a recess into which the tab can enter. After each blank has been 'folded upon itsforming block, 1

it is carried by the block to a'station at which.

the blank is gripped at'its lfolded ends by an ejecting device. The electing device is at this 86 ltime travelling in the same direction as but faster than the forming block, with the result. that the blank gripped by the electing device is stripped from off the forming block. Later in the operation of the machine, the ejecting device releases.

40 its grip upon the blank which then is received after referred to;

Figure 4 is a detail onablank-eiecting device of the machine;

Figure 5 shows a cut-and-scored blank, a succession of which is presented to the machine; and

Flgure is a perspective view of a carton which 5 has been formed by the machine from a blank such as is shown in Figure 5.

The main frame oi' the machine illustrated in the drawings comprises two side frame I0 and I2 in which are bearings for a main shaft I4 l0 which is rotated continuously from any convenient source of power. Secured to the main shaft I4 is a sprocket wheel I6 which is connected by a sprocket chain I8 to a sprocket wheel 20 fast upon a shaft 22 rotatable in bearings in the side (l5 frames I0, I2. The shaft 22 has fast upon it a gear wheel 24 in mesh with a gear wheel 28 secured to a shaft 28 supported in bearings in the side frames I0, I2. Fast upon the shaft 2B are sprocket wheels 30, 32 connected respectively 20 by sprocket chains 34, 36 with sprocket wheels 38, 40 secured to a shaft 42 carried in bearings at the upper ends of the side frames I0, I2. A number of cross-bars 44 (six in the example illustrated) are attached at their ends to equally- '25 spaced parts of the sprocket chains I4. IB, each of which cross-bars is provided with a forming block 4B.

From the foregoing description it will be appreciated that with thelmain shaft I4 rotating 30 in the direction indicated by the arrow on the lsprocket wheel I8 (Figure I) the forming blocks 46 travel in an endless path, those at the right in Flgure I moving downwardly. lIfhe forming blocks during their vertical movements are guided and steadied by guide channels 41 secured to the side frames Ill, I2 within which guide channels are received, parallel-sided projections 48 (Figure 2) located at each end of each of thecross bars 44. v

Each forming block 46 during its downward movement passes between a pair of longitudinal folding elements 50, 52 (Figure 1). The rear folding element is constituted by the upper I edge4 of a vertical folding member 54 carried upon 45 cross-bars 56, 58 the ends of which are secured in the side frames Illand I2,.and the front fold. ing element 52 is formed by the edge of a bentover portion at the upper end of a plate Bil mounted upon cross-bars 62, 64 extending be- 50 tween and secured to the side frames I0 and I2.

A cut-and-scored carton-blank 68, Figure 5 (whicli will be one of a series of blanks fed in succession to the machine) is fed. by any convenient means, on to a support which comprises a front' 55' ledge 60 (formed by the sai'd bent-over portion of the plate 00) and a rear plate 10 which is secured to the side frames I0 and I2. 'I'he blank 66 is correctly positioned in the path of travel of the forming blocks 30 by the aid of an end stop 12 formed by a turned-up part of the ledge 68 and side gauges 14 (Figure 2) mounted upon the plate 10; the blank 66 being correctly positioned when located between the side gauges 14 with its edge a (Figure 5) resting against the end stop 12. During the feed movement of the blank 66, the lateral marginal portions thereof are supported, as the blank crosses the gap between the folding elements 50, 52, by a pair of support members 16, the upper ends of which at that time, are located adjacent said gap, one at each side of the path of travel of the forming blocks 46. The support members 16 have also a folding function as presently will be explained. The support members 16 are arranged upon a rocking frame 18, which is loosely mounted upon a rock-shaft 19 carried in Y bearings in the side frames |0 and |2. An arm B0' on the frame 18 is rigidly connected by a bolt 8| with one arm 82 (Figure 2) of a two-arm lever the hub of which is loosely mounted upon the rock-shaft 19.- The other arm 83 of said twoarmed lever is coupled by a link 84 to the arm 86 of a two-armed lever the other arm 88 of which carries a cam roll which, under the action of a spring (not shown), bears against a cam 92 on the main shaft |4.

In the operation of the machine, the support members 16 are moved by the cam 92 to the position indicated in Figure 1 after the blank 6B has been fed into position across the gap between the folding elements 50, 52. A forming block 46 in its downward movement then engages the blank 06 and by the aid of the folding elements 50, 52 folds the bottom longitudinal section b (Figure 5) the forward longitudinal section c and the rearward longitudinal section d of the blank into U- shaped formation on the bottom and corresponding sides of the forming block. At this time in the operation, the end sections b', c', d of the corresponding longitudinal sections, b, c, d project beyond the respectively adjacent ends of the forming block. later in the operation, the end sections b', c', d are folded over upon the ends of the downwardly moving forming block in the manner now to be explained.

The end sections c' are first folded over the respectively adjacent ends of the forming block by the support members 16 which for this purpose are moved rearwardly under the action of the cam 92. The end sectionsb, by the downward movement of the forming block, are next folded upwardly over upon the end sections c' by stationary folders 94, 96 secured respectively to the folding member 54 and the cross-bar 02. While the end sections b', c' are being thus folded, the end sections vd are prevented from moving forwardly and thus colliding with the sectionsb., cf by means of a pair of fingers 90 which are mounted upon the side gauges 14 and project towards each other, in position to engage the sections d; forming block 4'0, brings the end sections d into engagementwith a pair of stationary curved folders |00 which are formed integral with and one at each side of thefolding member 04. These folders |00, as the forming block moves down past them turn the end sections d inwardly and foldv them upon the already folded end sections b', c. As shown in Figure 5, theend sections d are each provided with a tab-shspedportion d. This Continued downwardA movement of the tab portion d2 is adapted to enter a slot c2 formed in the associated end section c thereby to lock the end sections c', d', in their folded condition and also to lock, in that condition, the associated end section b' which lies between the end sections c' and d. In order to cause the tabs dz to enter the slots c2, the end sections d', together with the longitudinal section d, are pushed back, as shown in Figure 1, by a pair of push-back members |02 until the ends of the tabs dz are over the slots e2, the ends of the tabs da are next pressed into the slots c2 by a pair of pressing fingers |04, the forming block 46 having a recess |00 in each of its end portions to facilitate this operation, and finally the end sections d, together withy the longitudinal section d, are pushed forward again, by a push-forward device |00, thus causing the tabs d2 to enter fully into the slots c2 and lock the end sections together as shown in Figure 6. It will benoted from an inspection of Figure 1, that while the end sections' d1 are pushed back as above described their upper ends are still engaged by and under control of the lower ends of the curved folders |00. If desired, the plate 60 against which the longitudinal sections c bear during the downward movement of the forming blocks 46, may be provided Where necessary with side plates arranged to support the end sections c in folded condition while the push-forward device 08 advances to cause the f tabs d2 to enter the slot c2 in the sections c1.

The push-forward device |08 consists of a plate supported upon arms ||2 projecting from a hub i I4 which is fast upon a shaft ||6 carried in bearings in the side frames I0 and |2. The pushback members |02 are fast upon the shaft 10. Both of the shafts 19 and I6 are rocked to give the necessary movements to the parts they support, by means of a cam ||8 fast upon the main shaft |4. The cam ||8 actuates a two-arm lever |20-|22 which is .secured to the shaft ||0, one arm |20 of which lever carries a roll which engages the cam ||8 under action of a spring (not shown) while the other arm |22 is connected by a link |24 with an arm |28 fast upon the shaft 10.

'I'he pressing fingers |04 (see Figure 3) are each pivoted between the tines of the forked end of a lever |20, each of which levers is loosely a stationary cam |40, each of which' cams isl carried by the cross-bar 04. It will be spiareelated that the cam |00 on the shaft/20 and each of the stationary cams |40 are so shaped and arranged that as the forming block 40 descends the ends of the-pressing nngers' |04 under action of the cam |00move downwardly with the forming block and remain in the neighbourhood of the slots c in the, sections cl of the carton blank, `and also that the pressing fingers are moved inwardly towards the forming block by the cams m at the appropriate time zo tuck the uns di into the slots 01.-'

The machine is provided with an electing device for removing the folded cartons from the Vforming blocks. `This device comprises a pair of gripping members arranged to grip a carton sus n `which hee been folded hy themeehme. at its folded ends and by moving in the 'same direction as but faster than the forming block to remove the carton from the block. Each gripping member is constituted by one arm |48 (Figure 4) of an elbow lever. the ther arm |58 ,of which carries a cam roll |52, the purpose of which will presently be explained. Each elbow lever III-|58, is pivoted at |54 upon, a support |58 attached to a sprocket chain |58. Each sprocket chain |58 passes respectively over one of a pair of sprocket wheels |80 (only one of which is shown in Figure 1) carried upon a shaft |82 extending between the' side frames I8 and |2. The two chains |58 also pass, respectively, about two sprocket wheels |84 (only one of'which is shown) which are secured to the shaft 22. The driving mechanism for the chains |58 and for the chains 84, 86, which support 4the forming blocks, is so arranged that the chains |58 travel faster than the chains 34, 35. Stationary guide channels |68 serve to guide and steady the chains |58 in their movements in a vertical direction.

In the example illustrated herein, there are three sets of gripping members |48 which are spaced equally along the chains |58, with their path of upward movement adjacent the path of upward movement of the forming blocks upon which the cartons have been folded. Moreover, the timing of the parts is such' that when a folded carton on its formingl block arrives in or about the position marked A in Figure 1, it is gripped by one of the sets of gripping members |48, which thereupon, by reason of the fact that the set is travelling faster than the forming block, withdraws the carton from the forming block and completely` removes it therefrom bef fore the said set of gripping members and the,

block arrive in the positions, marked B and C respectively in Figure 1.

The gripping members |48 are separated against the action of springs |88 (Figure 4) to straddle a carton on its forming block and then released to the action of said springs to grip the carton, by means of stationary cams |18 which are secured to a convenient part of the machine frame (see Figure 1) in a position in which the rolls |52 associated with the gripping members |48 travel over said cams as the gripping mem-v bers approach and arrive at position A of Figure 1. After a carton has been withdrawn from its forming block, and has been. carried overthe shaft |82 at the top of the machine,` anotherr pair of stationary cams, one of which. is indicated at |12 in Figure 1, engage the rolls |52 and cause the gripping members |48 to release the carton which then falls-open side uppermost--upon a convenient receptacle (not shown). such as a travelling conveyor, which is provided for its reception.

Each of the carton blanks may be accompanied by an inner liner of waxed paper or similar m`a terial, which liner and its associated'blank will be folded simultaneously by the -folding devices of the machine.

I claim:

l1. A machine for folding blanks intocartons,

comprising a'forming, block, folding elements co-' operating with said forming block for folding vthe portions of a blank which are to constitute the bottom and two sides of the carton against corresponding surfaces oi the forming block, means for imparting relative movement between the forming block and folding elements to effect such folding operation, folding devices for folding in succession against another surface of said forino ing block the side end sections and the bottom end section of the blank, means for imparting relative movement between the` forming block y and said folding devices to effect such end folds elementon the innermost of said folded end scctions thereby to lock all said end sections of the blank in folded condition, a retaining element for engaging an end section of the blank, before the folding operation thereon and preventing it from colliding Withfthe other vencl sections during the folding operation upon these sections, and means for imparting relative movement between said retaining element and the forming block t0 cause said element to release said non-folded end section forrthe folding operation thereon by the said folding devices.

2. A machine for folding blanks into cartons. comprising a forming block, folding elements cooperating with said block for foldingthe portions of a blank which are to constitute the `bottom and two sides of the carton against three correspending surfaces of the block, means for imparting relative movement between the forrniu block and the folding elements to eect such folding operation, folding devices for each end of the carton for folding against another surface next a bottom end section of the blank, and finally another side end section of the blank, means for imparting relative movement between the forming block and said folding devices to effect such end folding operation, means for each end ofthe carton for engaging a locking element on one of said. side end sections of the blank with of theblock rst a side end section of the blank.. V

a co-operating locking element on the other side end section of the blank thereby to lock the side end sections in folded `condition with the folded bottom end section located between the side end sections, retaining elements for engaging ,the said side end sections which are folded finally before the folding operation thereon and f preventing them from colliding with the other end sections during the folding operation upon these sections, and means for imparting relative movement be tween said retaining elements and the forming block to cause said elements to release said nonfolded end sections `for the folding operation` thereon by `the said folding devices.

s. A machine for folding blanks into cartons l eration, means for engaging a locking element on the outermost lof said folded end sections of each blank with'a co-operating locking element onv the innermost of said foldedy end sections thereby to lock all the end sections at each end of each carton in their overlying folded condition, and for each end of the carton a retainingl element for engaging an end section of the blank,

before the folding operation thereon and preventing it from colliding with the other end sections during the folding operation upon these sections,

and means for imparting relative movement; be-

tween said retaining element and the forming block to cause said-element to release said nonfolded end section vfor the folding operation thereon by the said folding devices.

4. A machine for folding blanks into cartons comprising a plurality of spaced forming blocks, a pair of stationary folding elements, means for moving the forming blocks in succession between the folding elements to fold the portions of a blank which are to constitute the bottom and two sides of the carton against the corresponding surfaces of each block as it moves between the elements. a movable folding device, means for moving said device to cause it to fold at each end of the carton a side end section of the blank against an end surface of the forming block, sta tionary folding devices, spaced along the path of movement of the forming block. and operating by reason of movement of the forming block past them next to fold first the bottom end section and finally another side section against the end surface of the forming block upon which the rst-named side end section has been folded, retaining elements for engaging the said side end sections which are folded finally before the fold- 'the said folding devices.

5. A machine for folding blanks into cartons, comprising a forming block, folding elements cooperating with said forming block for folding the portions of a blank which are to constitute the bottom and two sides of the carton against corresponding surfaces of the forming block,`

means for imparting relative movement between the forming block and folding elements to effect such folding operation, folding devices for folding in succession against another surface of said forming block the side end sections and the bottom end section of the blank, means for imparting relative movement between the forming block and said folding devices to effect such end folding operation, means for engaging a locking element on the outermost of said folded end sections of the blank with a co-operating locking element on the innermost of said folded end sections thereby to lock all said end sections of the blank in folded condition, a retaining element for engaging an end section of the blank, before the folding operation thereon and preventing it from colliding with the other end sections during the foding operation upon these sections, means for imparting relative movement between said retaining element and the forming block to cause said element to release said non-folded end section for the folding operation thereon by the said folding devices, an ejecting device for removing formed cartons from the forming block compris- 'ing a pair of gripping members for gripping between them the carton by its folded end faces. means to cause said gripping members to approach each other thus to grip between them the end faces of the carton, means to move said members while gripping the carton away from the forming block to remove the carton therefrom and means acting thereafter to separate said gripping members to release the carton.

l ALFRED GERMAN ROSE. 

